The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, #5)

by Robert Jordan

With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and the hours dwindle. The wall is pierced, and the veil of parting raised. Storms rumble beyond the horizon, and the fires of heaven purge the earth. There is no salvation without destruction, no hope this side of death. —fragment from The Prophecies of the Dragon believed translated by N’Delia Basolaine First Maid and Swordfast to Raidhen of Hoi Cuchone (circa 400 AB)

“The Breaking of the World killed the weak,” he had heard Bael say, “and the Three-fold Land killed the cowards.”

Take what you can have. Rejoice in what you can save, and do not mourn your losses too long. It was not his thought, but he took it. It seemed a good way to avoid going mad before the taint on saidin drove him to it.

And the Glory of the Light did shine upon him. And the Peace of the Light did he give men. Binding nations to him. Making one of many. Yet the shards of hearts did give wounds. And what was once did come again —in fire and in storm splitting all in twain. For his peace . . . —for his peace . . . . . . was the peace . . . . . . was the peace . . . . . . of the sword. And the Glory of the Light did shine upon him. —from “Glory of the Dragon” composed by Meane sol Ahelle, the Fourth Age